UNSW PhD student, Sue Kweon
An innovative start-up has collaborated with The University of New South Wales (UNSW) to fast-track commercialisation of new genetic testing technology.
The PhD internship project between medtech start-up, Genepath, and UNSW was facilitated by APR.Intern and supported by MTPConnect’s REDI initiative. Tasked with helping Genepath fill a short-term skills gap, APR.Intern matched the team’s research needs with UNSW PhD student, Suhyun ‘Sue’ Kweon.
“Genetic testing technology has incredible potential for preventative health screening and innovative advancements are taking place right here in Australia,” said Dr Glenn Bennett, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Genepath.
“We have developed a first-of-its-kind expanded carrier screening test for the Australian market and required biotechnology expertise to analyse its performance – Sue’s skillset was the perfect match. The project produced a high-quality, comprehensive evaluation of the test, which was then used in the regulatory approval process,” Bennett explained.
For Sue, the 3-month internship was an opportunity to experience a practical research environment and develop new skills.
“I learnt how research is performed in the private sector and developed new skills in financial management, leadership, strategic planning, communication and collaboration,”
Sue Kweon, PhD student at UNSW and former PhD Intern at Genepath
Industry-university collaboration was always on the cards for Genepath, whose founders are research scientists with academic backgrounds.
“Central to our mission is mentoring early-stage researchers – to show them how research ideas can be made a reality in the private sector,”
Dr Glenn Bennett, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Genepath
The collaboration was a win-win for all; Sue now with invaluable experience in the commercialisation of a medtech product under her belt, and Genepath a step closer to bringing a transformative new carrier screening test to the Australian market.
This internship was supported by both the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment and MTPConnect’s Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative. MTPConnect is Australia’s Growth Centre for medical technologies, biotechnologies and pharmaceuticals sector.
